Senior Legal Counsel

New Look; Weymouth; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent retail company is looking for a Qualified Solicitor to join its legal team in Weymouth. The role involves managing employment disputes, providing advisory support on HR-related issues, and drafting employment contracts. Candidates should have 6-8 years of PQE, strong IT skills, and the ability to work independently. The company offers various benefits including a staff discount, private pension scheme, and enhanced leave policies.

Benefits

40% staff discount

Private pension scheme

Profit related bonus scheme

Healthcare Private Medical Scheme

Extra paid day off on birthday

Life assurance policy

Qualifications

• Must have experience in a highly regarded Employment department.
• Must have in-house experience or experience with large retail clients is desirable.
• Ability to plan, organize and prioritize tasks.

Responsibilities

• Manage all employment disputes including representing the company in Employment Tribunal.
• Provide ad hoc advice on matters like discrimination and redundancy.
• Draft and maintain staff handbooks and employment contracts.

Skills

Excellent IT skills

Strong drafting skills

Negotiating skills

Communication skills

Ability to build relationships

Education

Qualified Solicitor

6-8 year PQE

Job description

Overview

This is an exciting role in a fun, fast-paced business. You will report directly to our General Counsel & Company Secretary as part of a small legal team of 8 based in London and Weymouth. You\'ll primarily advise and support all areas of the People Team with their work across stores, distribution and support centres, as well as advising the board of directors and other areas of the business, such as procurement and customer services.

Responsibilities

• Litigation: managing all employment disputes from the point of contact from ACAS conciliators. These typically include claims of discrimination, unfair and constructive unfair dismissal, and unlawful deductions from wages. Ideally, representing the company in the Employment Tribunal at preliminary hearings, judicial mediations and if appropriate, at full hearing.
• Advisory: Providing ad hoc advice to the business on a range of matters such as discrimination complaints, maternity rights, grievances, sickness absence management, redundancy and re-structuring, health and safety, TUPE, bonus arrangements, holiday entitlement, retirement, performance management, disciplinaries and dismissal, varying terms of employment, grievances, continuous service and employment status or corporate projects as may arise from time to time.
• Drafting: Advising on the terms of contracts of employment at all levels, supporting with maintaining staff handbooks and policies, drafting consultancy agreements, appointments of non-executive directors, settlement and secondment agreements.
• Managing upwards: keeping the General Counsel & Company Secretary and other Commercial Solicitors in the team informed about important issues and able to present clearly and precisely, enabling others to understand the key facts and issues.
• Staying up to date with legal developments and key business information and is aware of the marketplace and the company\'s position within it.
• Cultivating and maintaining a relationship with internal stakeholders and external counsel.
• Identifying and providing training to the business on relevant legal issues.
• Coordinating projects, liaising with and managing external law firms to obtain advice (UK and overseas).

Qualifications

Required

• Qualified Solicitor
• 6-8 year PQE (level of PQE suggested, but we will consider applications from candidates with suitable experience with other levels of PQE)
• Experience gained within a highly regarded Employment department either in house or as part of a leading National/International Firm providing you have experience of working in house either on secondment or as part of your employment
• Excellent IT skills.

Desirable Attributes

• In-house experience (including secondment) and/or experience advising large retail clients.
• Excellent technical skills across the full remit of employment law matters.
• Excellent drafting, negotiating and communication skills
• Personable and confident, able to build relationships with partners/ key stakeholders quickly
• Resilient and calm under pressure. Adaptable and flexible approach.
• Ability to take responsibility and act autonomously with minimal supervision
• Excellent organisational skills - ability to plan, organise and prioritise tasks and projects.
• Ability to work under pressure, to prioritise tasks and manage deadlines.
• Innovative, proactive and able to respond creatively and effectively in offering solutions whilst managing expectations.
• Commercial awareness and ability to produce innovative and cost-effective legal solutions.
• A high degree of professionalism and willingness to constructively challenge the status quo.
• A true trusted business partner

Benefits

• 40% staff discount plus friends & family discounts throughout the year
• Access to our reward platform for external discount and offers
• Private pension scheme
• Profit related bonus scheme
• Option to join our Healthcare Private Medical Scheme
• Virtual GP access for you and your children - you can speak to a doctor at a time and date that suits you
• All employees are covered by our life assurance policy from day one
• Unlock extra leave with our buy more holiday scheme
• Celebrate YOU! Enjoy an extra paid day off on your birthday each year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and shared parental leave
• Spread the cost of your commute with interest-free season ticket loans
• Do your bit for the environment and save money with our Cycle2Work scheme
• We\'re proud to partner with the Retail Trust and Fashion & Textile Children\'s Trust